We stayed at this hotel in conjunction with a corporate retreat in May of 2008. There is nothing short of spectacular about the resort - nestled against the crystal-clear water of Emerald Bay, the resort is comprised of a main hospitality facility wih various-sized conference rooms, a number of three-story "bay houses" in a row, fronted by smaller and more exclusive suites right on the beach. Surrounding the quarters are a lavish, perfectly-designed golf course, a beautiful tennis facility, grassy lawns, and two pools. The first pool is the main one, with room for all and all ages. The other pool is somewhat smaller, and is called "The Quiet Pool". As its name would imply, it is where you will find people reading in their lawnchairs, perhaps sunbathing, and perhaps sipping on a freshly-made beverage, away from the crowd.

There are three dining options aside from in-room service, and these three options cut across the width of elegance and relative cost. Il Cielo puts a Bahamian twist on Italian, and you will not go wrong ordering anything off the menu. 23 Degrees is somewhat more casual, but serves everything with flair. Ting'M is the pool-side bar and is available for casual eats as well.

Out on the beach, of course you can see right to the bottom of the water, and all manner of complimentary non-motorized water toys make the water that much more inviting. My bride and I took in the paddleboat, and found out very soon just how much stamina you have to have in order to motor that thing around and keep it on course too.

Our suite was absolutely perfect. We stayed in one of the bay houses, not the closest to the beach, but that was just fine, as we were able to sample the lavish grounds and occasional foot-traffic as well. Impeccably-furnished, the room is large and the air conditioning works like a Swiss watch (even with the sliding door open - don't tell anyone...) The bathroom is just as sumptuous, with the requisite double-vanity granite sinks across from the deep garden tub. The glass shower sits in its corner, and is big enough for two (don't ask me how I know...).

The Four Seasons philosophy of no-holds-barred, spot-on luxury is somewhat juxtaposed against the very laid-back attitude of the native staff. We found the vast majority of the crew at the resort to be prompt and courteous. The doormen stand ready to admit you through the grand front entrance. The front desk staff is just as courteous. Nearly every staff member greets you as you pass them along one of the paths. As the facility is so spread-out, staff use golf carts to transfer material to and fro, and they always stop and pull to the side, silently and patiently waiting as guests pass them by. But there were a few during our tenure that left a bit of a sour taste by their relative lack of service. We were served dinner one evening at 23 Degrees, and the service was painfully slow. Furthermore, it took them three tries to finally secure our wine order, going so far as to argue with me as to what they recalled me ordering. When they finally brought the wine, I was disappointed at the lack of usual pomp and ceremony I have come to expect when being presented with a $100 bottle of wine. Some elements of our dinner were mis-prepared. Having inadvertently left our watches either in our rooms or in the States, we were not aware that the hour of their closure had come and gone, but we grew increasingly aware of the souring attitude of our waitress at the thought of us keeping her there late. On another dining event, I was reminded the hard way that the hotel automatically adds a service gratuity to all orders, significantly more than a customary tip would be here in the States. At Ting'M one mid-day, I saw that two beers each for my wife and me, along with a hamburger and a deli wrap, came to nearly $95 after the service charge was applied. I inadvertently left the waiter $120, and was never given my change. I thought it inappropriate at that moment to call him down for this misunderstanding, but I quickly learned to leave only the amount specified. We were greeted by this same brand of slow pace elsewhere and decided against challenging it in the spirit of embracing, or at very least anticipating, some cultural differences.

Was the Four Seasons a good value? I would reluctantly say so. But be prepared - this is not the starched, ultra-formal, snap-to Four Seasons I am used to. Perhaps that is part of their Bahamian charm, but I was a little disappointed. Perhaps I am used to a bit more in the way of value for the money. This resort is easily the most lavish, most expensive place at which I have ever in my lifetime laid my head. The service I have received at places further inland, perhaps with not as great a view, has been far greater overall. Furthermore, as I have mentioned in another review, there is really not that much to do there. I prefer to get out and explore, and it would be the person in need of several days of quiet solace that might get the greatest benefit from this resort.

After reading some of the reviews I was rather surprised. I consider my self young (30) and my fiance and I had a wonderful time at this resort. If you are going for activity, shopping, nightlife then yes - this is not the place for you (there is a casino though). If you are going for an unbelievable beach, great pools, excellent service, great food, and to get away and relax I would recommend this resort to anyone. I think this is an excellent get away spot for a long weekend. I highly recommend it and will definitely go back.

After a rather long and gray winter in Toronto, this was a trip that was long overdue!

The Four Seasons here is lovely. I had a room that, when I opened the sliding glass doors, looked out over the beach at Emerald Bay. The room itself was huge, with a king bed and a large washroom with a separate glass-walled shower. Although I have been in hotels that have been what I would consider to be somewhat "over the top", this one was definitely amongst the top of a list that includes the Jasper Park Lodge (Jasper, Alberta), the Ritz-Carlton (Chicago) and the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

The pool area is huge and there were ample umbrellas or cabanas to shade yourself from the sun while at the same time, being able to enjoy the warm ocean breezes. There is wireless internet throughout the hotel, and even by the pool, although the signal isn't particularly strong. But then neither are the land-lines, but hey, they do have internet. That said, what on earth are you doing on the internet here??? While sunning one's self, the staff would periodically drop by to fill your water glass, offer you a fruit smoothie or a "Mr. Freeze" (that brought back childhood summer memories). It was delightful.

I guess the only negative about the Island (and the hotel) that I can think of is that the Four Seasons is a ways away from the very few number of restaurants on the island, so you are somewhat beholden to the restaurants at the hotel; you are a captive audience. The hotel restaurant food is expensive, and the quality is 'mediocre to OK' in the cafe (23 degrees) and 'good' at Il Cielo. And since one is staying at the Four Seasons, honestly, the quality of the food really could (and should) have been better.

In summary, this is a lovely spot to visit for a few days or a week. The environment and the staff are top-notch. But do expect to pay a premium for this type of hotel. Paradise does not come cheap!

Overall I liked the resort..rooms are lovely and the hotel is laid out very nicely. The kids pool is terrific for the kids and parents. Golf and tennis are very good. The beach is terrific and the water beautiful. There are two negatives. One is the service is so slooooow ....in every restaurant. Second, there is little else on the island so there are no other restaurants to go to.